Port Mulgrave Ironstone Mine

Posted on December 31, 2012 by chris.twigg

The ironstone mine at Port Mulgrave was started by Charles Mark Palmer in the 1850s and was originally called ‘Far Rosedale’ or ‘Rosedale on the Coast’ , it was renamed to avoid confusion with the Rosedale Mines.

The Main Seam at this location is actually slightly below sea level and shafts existed on the shore, but no trace of these remain due to landslips, additional quarrying and underground working of the Top Seam took place much higher up the cliffs and a shaft was sunk to connect to Top Seam workings with the wooden loading gantry on the harbour. The tunnel where this emerged from the cliffs is still visible.

The gate is now securely locked and the tunnel cannot be entered, I took theÂ followingÂ photos back in 2007 when it was not locked, they show the large roof collapse just inside the entrance

The brickwork of the tunnel is almost built directly into the cliff face.

I believe the bricked-up entrance was used as a pillbox during World War 2, hence the loop hole.

The tunnel inside was extended in the 1870s to connect to the Grinkle Mine also owned by Charles Mark Palmer via Dalehouse.

Tom Browns Tree, Kirkleatham

Posted on December 30, 2012 by chris.twigg

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The oak tree replaces an older elm which was planted in 1755 in the memory of Tom Brown, apparently marking the site of his fathers cottage.

Tom Brown was born in Kirkleatham in 1705, he is known for his role in the Battle of Dettingen which took place on 27 June 1743 in Bavaria during the War of the Austrian Succession.

His regiments standard was captured and while recovering it he received terrible injuries to his face including his nose being cut off. He is said to have been given a silver nose by King George II.
He retired to Yarm with a pension of 30 shillings from the King, as two shots from the battle could not be safely removed from his back, he died there in 1746.

Some account state he was knighted on the battle field by the king although this could be doubtful, as could the date of his birth, there some investigation on this here

Update 2013 : Located a photo of the damaged original

The Redcar Tank

Posted on December 17, 2012 by chris.twigg

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Many towns in the UK were presented with tanks at the end of WW1. I’ve seen three photos of the Redcar tank, one shows it at the railway station in 1919.
Two others show it at the end of the High Street.

At some point it was apparently moved to the corner of Lilac Grove and Coast Road where some British Legion seating exists today, but as was the fate with the majority of these tanks they were used for scrap in WW2.

Spigot Mortar Emplacement, Loftus

Posted on October 14, 2012 by chris.twigg

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This metal pin would have been the mounting point for a Blacker Bombard 29mm Anti-Tank Mortar

This firing position on Loftus has an excellent view of the railway station.

Loftus’ Adopted Motor Torpedo Boat

Posted on September 26, 2012 by chris.twigg

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These two plaques in Loftus Town Hall records that the town adopted Motor Torpedo Boat 57 during Warship Week from Novenber 29th to December 6th 1941.

Motor Torpedo Boat was the name given to fast torpedo boats by the Royal Navy, MTB 57 was a Vosper 70 ft, with Hall Scott engines, armaments were two 21-inch torpedo tubes, one 0.50-inch machine guns and two 0.303-inch machine guns.

Fortunately this excellent photograph of MTB57 in action exists which I was kindly allowed to re-use thanks to http://www.navyphotos.co.uk/

Also in the town hall is a letter of thanks from the Commanding Officer of the Coastal Force Base in Maddalena, Sardinia

Loftus War Savings 1943 – 1944

Posted on September 25, 2012 by chris.twigg

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The town hall holds a pair of plaques recognising the contribution of Loftus to the war.

The 1943 plaque was presented by the Air Ministry for ‘Wings For Victory’ week which was 1st – 8th May 1943 when civilians would have been asked to save their money in Government accounts, such as War Bonds, Savings Bonds, Defence Bonds and Savings Certificates.

‘Salute the Soldier’ week was a similar fund raising campaign 17th – 24th June 1944 and presented by the War Office.

Loftus First World War Memorial

Posted on September 24, 2012 by chris.twigg

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The Zetland family originally erected this wooden memorial outside the Town Hall in 1919 where it remained until 1949.

The memorial was then misplaced, Councillor Eric Jackson began looking for it in 1982, but it wasn’t untilÂ 2001Â it was finallyÂ rediscovered in the Cemetary Chapel in East Loftus. The restored memorial was unveiled by Mayor Gerry Dickinson in August 2008.

It carries the words “â€˜Is it nothing to you, all ye who pass by”

Norton Bottoms Pillbox

Posted on September 14, 2012 by chris.twigg

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Hidden away in Norton Bottoms is this spectacular hexagonal pillbox.

It doesn’t appear to follow any of the standard designs as it has loop holes on the corners.

The entrance is part-buried with brick steps.

Inside looks to be relatively grafitti and litter free due to the remote location.

My thanks go to Wayne Martin for braving the marshes to get these photos for me.

Skelton Mill

Posted on September 9, 2012 by chris.twigg

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A corn mill has been recorded in Skelton since as early as 1272 although these buildings probably date from the 19th century. Only the building without the roof was actually the mill

The mill was still being used to generate electricity rather than mill corn when itÂ was hit by a Germany bomb on 15th or 16thÂ April 1942 (sources vary)

The remains were reduced in 1965 to allow for the widening of the road as it now goes right through the location of the mill.

The two historical images above come from Bill Danbys excellent Skelton History pages.